A Walden of one's own: Tables -- Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine -- December 2000

A pond's purpose Ponds are generally classified into the following types: Wildlife, Fishing, Swimming, Commercial and Stormwater. Each type is suited to different uses. The table below highlights types of ponds most suitable for different natural conditions.
Pond Type	Characteristics	Aesthetics	Boating	Fishing	Swimming	Wildlife
Wildlife	Heavily vegetated with buffer strips. Generally shallow (<3 feet) with irregular, gently sloping shore.	May be suited	May be suited	Less suited	Less suited	Best suited
Fishing	Moderately vegetated (30-50%) with steep drop-offs. Generally deeper than 15 feet although with groundwater or surface flow, may be < 5 feet.	May be suited	May be suited	Best suited	May be suited	May be suited
Swimming	Maximum vegetation < 90% with gradual slopes and firm bottom. Typically mowed shoreline or beach in swimming area with major buffer strips on rest of pond to limit runoff and sustain water quality.	May be suited	May be suited	Less suited	Best suited	Less suited
Commercial	Ornamental pond or cooling pond with < 40% vegetation and variable depths and sizes.	May be suited	Less suited	Less suited	Less suited	Less suited
Stormwater	Designed to catch and hold runoff from subdivisions, parking lots, roads and other urban areas, Normally has an outflow.	May be suited	Less suited	Less suited	Less suited	Less suited

The right ingredients Consider the following when planning your pond:
Pond Characteristics	Beneficial to Wildlife	Beneficial to Fish	Beneficial to Swimming
Water Source
Cold groundwater (spring water)	x	x	x
Watershed runoff	x
Coldwater stream	x	x
Warmwater stream	x	x	x
Shoreline attributes
Natural buffer	x
Rock riprap or brick			x
Manicured lawn			x
Sand or pea gravel bottom			x
Soft or mucky bottom	x	x
Pond shape
Round			x
Irregular	x
Shallow with gentle side slopes	x
Deep with steep side slopes		x	x